Do I need a building permit?
You need a permit for all work done to the envelope of the home:
- roofing
- siding
- windows
- exterior doors
- under home enclosures/louvered enclosure
- new decks
- deck extensions
- deck repairs including deck boards and railing, stringers
- piling replacement
- stringer or floor joist replacement
- stair and ramps (including replacements)
- driveways, driveway maintenance, lot leveling if in the jurisdiction of the GLO
- fill work if in the jurisdiction of the GLO or Wetlands
- demolition of structures
- fences on beachfront lots or lots where dunes might be impacted
- home additions
- new homes
This is not an exhaustive list. If you have any questions, please contact the Building Official at (979) 233-1531, x102 if you have any questions.
The products used for the envelope of the home will need to be a windstorm approved product and the installation will have to be inspected by either the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Angleton Office which is a free inspection. Or, you will need to hire a Texas Certified Windstorm Engineer to perform your windstorm inspections. TDI or your windstorm engineer can help you with product selection. We will need a completed Remodel/Addition permit application and a WPI-1. TDI will post the WPI-1 online and the windstorm engineers will need to email the WPI-1 to the Building Official directly.
What documentation do I need for a permit?If you are building a new home you will need the following:
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appropriate building permit application for new construction based upon location of property (beachfront/non-beachfront) with Geographical ID for lot
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certified windstorm engineered house plans
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initial elevation certificate
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WPI-1 (Application for Windstorm Certificate of Compliance)
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surveyed site plan (indicate distance to line of vegetation (LOV) if beachfront)
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Texas General Land Office review (for beachfront applications); this review takes ten (10) working days. The Building Official will submit your application to the GLO for you.
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signed, original, on-site sewage facility design (northeast side of Highway 332 only)
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paid septic fee (northeast side of Highway 332 only)
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paid water tap
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paid sewer tap (southwest side of Highway 332 only)
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multiple photos of vacant lot (beachfront)
Before we can issue a Certificate of Occupancy for your new home, we need:
If you are doing remodel/addition work or repairs, you will need:
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appropriate building permit application for remodel/addition based on location of property (beachfront/non-beachfront) with Geographical ID for property
-
house plans or sketch
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WPI-1 (application for Windstorm Certificate of Compliance)
-
surveyed site plan
-
Texas General Land Office review (for beachfront applications); this review takes ten (10) working days. The Building Official will submit your application to the GLO for you.
-
multiple photos of property (particularly below base flood elevation)
Is There Minimum Square Footage for a New Home?
Yes, the minimum square footage for new home is 800 square feet.
Are there typical setbacks for a home?
Yes. There are:
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25 feet on the front
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5 feet on each side
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10 feet on the back
Covered decks are subject to these setbacks. However, uncovered decks and stairs are not.
What about allowing for parking for a new home?
The minimum required parking area is one parking space per 300 square feet of living area.